2019 Moundville Native American Festival
Be here for the 30th Annual Moundville Native American Festival on October 9-12, 2019 at Moundville Archaeological Park in Moundsville, Alabama. Repeatedly named on of Alabama’s Top 20 Tourism Events, the Moundville Native American Festival is always held Wednesday through Saturday on the first full weekend of October. Held at the University of Alabama’s Moundsville Archaeological Park, performers, artists, crafspeople, and tradition bearers entertain and educate visitors about the rich culture and heritage that makes Southeastern Indians unique.
Moundville Native American Festival
Join the thousands of visitors during the week of International Archaeology Day to experience the Moundville Native American Festival. We will have Native American performers, demonstrators, living history teachers, and crafts vendors here to teach and celebrate Native American culture. Visit the “tools and weapons” range to learn how to throw an atlatl, or visit the Native American stage to watch stomp dancers, social dancing, and hoop dancer extraordinaire Lyndon Alec, and so much more! And don’t miss the fantastic music of GrayHawk Perkins and many others.
Learn about traditional pottery firing, weaving, bead work, and other crafts! Bring your children to our Children’s Area for face painting and make and take crafts. Purchase unique Native American crafts in our vendor’s area. Our food courts will offer Native American foods and regular festival fare such as hamburgers, hot dogs, and shaved ice. Don’t forget to take a tour of the Jones Archaeological Museum and visit the Knotted-Bird gift shop to pick up one of our annual festival t-shirts!
Festival Admission:
Adults: $12.00
Seniors & Students: $10.00
Children 5 and under: FREE
Prepaid Groups: Prepaid groups with reservations: $8.00 per student. One teacher for every 15 students and bus drivers are admitted free with the registered group. Accompanying adults pay regular festival admission rate at the gate.
Festival Hours
Weekdays: 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Portal to the Past
Visit the Jones Archaeological Museum where state-of-the-art exhibits tell a story of the nobility who once lived at Moundville. Stunning artifacts, recreated scenery and a special effects theatre are all part of the new displays.
Native American Stage
The Native American Stage features renowned dancers, storytellers and musicians, with GrayHawk Perkins as Emcee. Hear the heartbeat of native music in the sound of the drums and rattles. Discover why certain animals look or act the way they do as described in ancient native stories and legends. Listen to voices blended in haunting harmony or the beautiful notes of flutes floating on the breeze. Both traditional and contemporary performances are featured throughout the Moundville Native American Festival.
Arts and Crafts Demonstratoins
See pottery being pit fired or learn how Choctaws make rivercane baskets in the festival’s Arts and Crafts Arbors. Watch fire being kindled by friction or talk with a world-class bowman as he carves a wooden longbow. Witness these experts as they shoot the bow and arrow or throw a spear fifty yards with the help of a special “stick” called an atlatl. See how a hollow piece of cane can be used to create a deadly dart. Native Americans and other experts demonstrate these and many other arts, crafts and technologies during the entire Moundville Native American Festival.
Knapper’s Corner hosts toolmaker from around the country. Making pear and arrow points from rocks that break like glass, these artists reproduce ancient work as well as creating new works of art. Watch as craftsmen demonstrate “flintknapping”, a fascinating technology used by humans worldwide before forged metal was invented.
Hands-On Kids Activities
Kids of all ages will get first-hand experience in playing native games and making simple crafts in the children’s area. There, they can play the ancient game of stickball, dress up like Southeastern Indians, throw an Indian football, make a shell bead necklace or try their hand at Indian Twister. At the Moundville Native American Festival, there is fun for the whole family.
Experience Archaeology in Action
Living History
Discover why the fur trade was so important to Indians in the late 1700s and early 1800s in the Living History Camp. Through its sights, sounds and smells, this camp brings the past to life. Smell native foods cooking on an open fire or hear an elder describe his journeys through the wilderness. Reenactors are dressed in period clothing, their authentic camps filled with items suggesting this important past trade era.
Fur Trade Era
Discover why the fur trade was so important to Indians in the late 1700s and early 1800s in the Living History Camp. Through its sights, sounds and smells, this camp brings the past to life. Smell native foods cooking on an open fire or hear an elder describe his journeys through the wilderness. Reenactors are dressed in period clothing, their authentic camps filled with items suggesting this important past trade era.
Traders Circle and Arts Market
Authentic handicrafts, artifact reproductions, art prints, musical instruments, toys, clothing, books, jewelry and a wide assortment of souvenirs are all for sale in the Trader’s Circle or Arts Market. Some of the country’s finest artists and craftspeople are featured exhibitors.
School Groups: This is a great trip for students, so please share with your schools. Teachers, register your class for a field trip to the Festival today! School, church, scout, and other groups can be booked by emailing Lisa Rasco at llrasco@ua.edu.
Food Court
The Moundville Native American Festival’s Food Court is located next to the museum, featuring a variety of Native American food, as well as an abundance of traditional festival concessions. Try an Indian taco, roasted corn, or a smoked turkey leg. Additional food choices are available at the riverbank near Knapper’s Corner.
Location & Directions
Moundville Archaeological Park
634 Mound Pkwy
Moundville, AL 35474
(205) 371-2234
Moundville Archaeological Park is a division of the University of Alabama Museums. The park is located 13 miles south of Exit 71A on I20/59 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama off of State Highway 69.
For More Information or for Group Reservations:
Lisa Rasco 205-371-8732 or email llrasco@ua.edu
Mark your calendar today so you don’t miss the next Moundville Native American Festival on Wednesday through Saturday the first full week of October at Moundville Archaeological Park in Moundsville, Alabama.
Tags: Moundville Native American Festival, Native American Festival, Alabama Native American Festival